Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-11-14
sylunth's Column,
Wills Motto.

the tattered, coverless spelling book
was thrown into the farthest corner
of the room, as the lad crammed his
new but battered straw hat upon his
curly, half-combed hair, and started
TO Join his comrade in the yard.
1T is not well enough unless it is
perfect" replied Harry; land am
in no hurry"
...Weu enough is my motto, and
Perfect is yours" laughed VIII.
s.And that is why Harry is always
at the head of your classes, and you
are at the foot" put in Aunt Han
nah, with sigh; while Mrs. Jones
called after her son, ''That onion-bed
is not thoroughly weeded, by any
means"
1T is weeded we'll enough" re-
torted VIII, as he vaulted over a rail
fence on the brow of a hill, from
which point a broad sheet of water,
glistening in the sunlight, was visible
mile away.
Have you mended your boat?"
asked Harry, as the two lads ran
swiftly down the grassy pasture
slope.
''Yes, well enough" replied VIII,
reaching the waters edge, and push
ing the painted skiff out upon the
mirror-like surface.
"A well-enough boat will not do
for my mothers only boy" said
Harry, stoutly. Lets give up go
ing upon the water to-day, and
thoroughly mend and tar the ''Speed-
WE'LL then we can take some COM
fort going out in her"
s'Oh nonsense! You are such a
notional chap! The boat Is we'll
enough. Come on - And, jump
ing in, he took up the oars.
Harry sat down on a rock, saying,
$50 on, and will stay here to rem
der YOU what assistance | can when
the boat sinks"
Will laughed heartily as he pad
died away, and his laughter rang
back over the water at intervals for
half hour. Then he shouted, max
ing a trumpet Of his hands: ''She's
filling and sinking l can't get
ashore"
'sPut for Brush Island" Harry
shouted back; and knew his advice
was being taken by the changed
course of the little boat.
.sHe won't drOwn-he can SWIM
said Harry to himself. But he watch
ed with intense anxiety, there being
nothing else that he could do, until
the boat disappeared, and the owner
struck out for the island, now only
few rods away from him. Not until
he had scrambled upon the rocks,
and waved his hat in triumph, did
Harry leave his own exposed posi-
ton; then. waving his hat in reply,
he turned and ran as fast as possible
for the house.
"There is only one thing for me
to do" he said, breathlessly, to Mrs.
Jones, land that is to go as fast as
/ can for Tom Fishers boat. | am
afraid we can't get him off before
dark, and it is awfully lonely over
there
Il don't care at all" said Aunt
Hannah. Il don't pity him one bit.
1 think it would be a good lesson for
him to stay there all night. 1t might
teach him that nothing partly done
is done well enough
The kind old lady, however, as
Harry sped away, took her knitting
work. and went and sat upon the
rocks by the boat landing, where she
could see her nephew and he could
see her, although the distance was
too great for either to hear the voice
of the other.
Hes well enough" she said to
the family, as one and another came
down to keep her company; "but
there would be no harm in making a
bonfire here, so that he will know
we have not forgotten him.
The sun went down, the daylight
faded away in the west, one by one
the stars came out; but still there
was no sign of the approaching boat
When the flames Of the bonfire
shot up against the sky, an answer
inc flame shone out from the island.
''Oh, he had his metallic match
safe with him, that he uses when he
goes fishing evenings" said his sis
ter.
.'NOw if he only had something to
cook, he would be all right; but he
has not, and, oh dear, how hungry
he must be-" and the little girl sob
bed bitterly.
The hours dragged along, one,
two. three of them, and then from
out of the darkness, at the upper end
of the pond, a star appeared, coming
gradually nearer and nearer. 1t was
a hoat with a lantern. but il was not
coming from the direction of Tom
Fishers.
They all watched breathlessly as it
rounded the point and shot up into
the rays of light. 1t was boat with
two men, and it took off the adven-
turer and sped to the shore.
1T seems as if / had been gone
as long As Rip Van Wrinkle, =" said
VIII, as he jumped on shore. 81
-. l. I,